Hedge plants

Beech tree

Shady summer green beechwoods are a delight to see and walk in. Beech is potentially a large tree which is thought to be native in the south of Britain. It produces fine timber trees even on thin chalk and limestone soils. Late spring frosts may be damaging in years when they occur. Grey squirrels and beech bark disease can also be problematical in some areas. Beech is a shade tolerant species so ...[more]

Blackthorn

A dense viciously spiny spreading shrub ideal for hedges and game cover. It is resistant to gales and salt laden winds. The white flowers occur before the leaves in what is invariably a bad spell of weather (blackthorn winter). The fruits (sloes) are eagerly eaten by most animals and larger birds throughout the winter months....[more]

Common Yew

The yew is native to Europe (including Britain), North Africa and West Asia. It makes a rounded medium sized tree with a short but massive bole. Often several stems have coalesced to form a fluted column. This makes the wood inside interesting. A mixture of cream sapwood and orange-brown heartwood sinuously entwined together. An ideal material for the wood turner or artisan. The bark is like the p...[more]

Golden Leyland

Golden Leyland has almost the same vigour as the green types. It is a good hedge plant but must be strictly controlled. The brightest golden colour is obtained by tight regular clipping....[more]

Hazel

British native hazel is exceptionally valuable for wildlife and habitat conservation. It also provides good foraging and cover for game. Traditionally hazel was coppiced on a short rotation (6-15 years) under a well spaced out crop of standard oaks. Treated this way stools (the roots) are known to live longer than 600 years. The traditional products of the hazel underwood are increasingly sought a...[more]

Holly

Holly is a valuable minor species on woodland edges and in hedgerows. Its evergreen foliage is a source of shelter for birds, animals and insects. Female trees may produce enough berried shoots to be commercial at Christmas time. Thorny leaves make it a stock proof hedge but browsing animals do get some sustenance from them in winter. Finally the heavy white wood is prized by ornamental furniture ...[more]

Hornbeam

This tree is native to Europe and Asia Minor, including southern Britain. It is superficially like beech but is more tolerant of frost and poor ground. The wood is among the hardest known and immensely strong. It was used for cogwheels in mills and for the centres of cartwheels. It is still used for the hammers in pianos and in butchers chopping blocks. The hornbeam is an attractive tree in winte...[more]

Lawson Cypress tree

Hedging of this species is now more common than plantations of it. Nevertheless it is a respectable forest tree in its native SW Oregon and NW California. Trees 50 metres tall are known, a salutary lesson for hedge planters! When it was introduced to Britain in 1854 it enjoyed early popularity as a timber tree, but was soon overtaken by western red cedar. Once established as a horticultural plant ...[more]

Leyland Cypress tree

Leyland cypress has potential even as a timber tree. The adverse environmental impact of dense clonal forests of it are obvious though. Trees 36 metres tall are known and nothing will grow under them. It will produce a quick hedge but does not know when to stop growing!...[more]

Privet

This British native privet should not be confused with the oriental species used in town gardens. It is only semi-evergreen and produces a straggling open bush up to 5 metres tall. Usually it will have a good crop of black berries that are favoured by birds in early winter. It prefers lime rich lowland situations....[more]

Purple Beech tree

The purple form of Common beech is a beautiful hedge plant in formal situations. The foliage flushes out bright red in spring and again after a midsummer trim. Like green beech it will hold dead leaves during winter so improving its efficiency as an all year wind break....[more]

Quickthorn

Since the time of the Enclosure Acts in Britain hawthorn has been the universal rural hedging plant. It is a native species that, if not clipped, will make a tree 10-15 metres tall. Specimens are known which are many hundreds of years old. As a hedge it is superb. It has sharp thorns and can be 'laid' to prolong its useful life. The flowers are an important source of nectar for insects and the haw...[more]

Western Red Cedar tree

Potentially this is one of the most valuable softwoods we can grow in Britain. Its timber is as durable here as it is when grown in its native NW America. When used outside, even for roof shingles, "red cedar" is the best. Its productivity increases towards the west of Britain, but nevertheless it will grow almost anywhere. Trees exceed 40 metres tall in Wales and Scotland but reach a limit of abo...[more]